Ants are usually undesirable and many of those affected resort to well-known home remedies. But many methods do not bring the desired effect. Before you declare war on the insects, you should identify the species and understand their lifestyle.

Ants are not always welcome

Table of Contents

Show all
  1. the essentials in brief
  2. errors revealed
  3. What helps permanently?
  4. Effectively repel ants
  5. Ant species and habitats
  6. ants in the garden
  7. Chemicals
  8. Ants are useful
  9. frequently asked Questions

    10. the essentials in brief

    • Ant infestation can be significantly reduced with the help of baking soda
    • Baby powder, algae lime and chalk also keep ants away
    • Ants can't stand strong smells like vinegar, cinnamon or tea tree oil.

    errors revealed

    There is a great desire to fight ants naturally and without poison. However, many biodegradable and harmless products from the kitchen have proven to be of limited use. There are numerous misconceptions circulating on the web. In some cases, the measures achieve little or no success due to incorrect execution.

    baking powder

    Baking soda is a popular and at the same time feared home remedy in the fight against ants. The thesis that ants explode after ingesting baking soda and leave unsightly stains persists. However, this assumption has turned out to be wrong. In addition, ants avoid pollinated areas and do not actively eat the powder.

    Researchers at the University of Georgia at Griffin have found that baking soda can still be classified as an effective control agent. In their experiments, the ant population was reduced by 50 percent after six days. However, the way in which the baking powder is used is important for success.

    Conditions for a successful effect:

    • Dust ants directly with baking soda so they have to clean themselves
    • Sprinkle baking powder over a large area in the area of the ant trail and nests
    • Repeat actions several times until all ants have been captured

    background

    This is how baking powder works

    Baking powder contains sodium bicarbonate (chemical: NaHCO3). This colorless and odorless crystalline substance causes a change in the internal pH value, which means that normal enzymatic functions are no longer possible and the ant dies.

    In the study, about four milligrams of baking soda were spread per square centimeter. Effects were studied on the red fire ant and the Argentine ant. If the ants cannot find a way around and have to crawl over the pollinated area, the powder sticks to antennae and limbs. Presumably, the insects pick up the crystals when they clean their feelers.

    If ants come into contact with baking soda, they die from a failure of their bodily functions

    vinegar

    It is often recommended to clean the floor with vinegar water. The intense smell is said to drive away the ants. However, the vinegar flavors are extremely volatile, so the effect is limited. In order to successfully drive away the insects, you must drip pure vinegar onto the ant trail and repeat this measure daily if necessary.

    Disadvantage:

    • Apartment smells bad
    • Floor is covered with sticky vinegar stains
    • does not help with crowds

    Relocate in the flower pot

    If ants have settled in the raised bed and greenhouse or on the terrace and balcony, the resettlement method using inverted flower pots promises supposed success. It is true that the insects feel comfortable in the dwellings filled with wood wool. However, the measure does not work in most cases. It is ineffective in house ants and is only successful in species of ants that build soil nests in the lawn.

    When resettlement works:

    • Black garden ants and yellow meadow ants can be resettled with flower pots
    • on sunny days after long periods of rain with low temperatures
    • slightly moistened and crumpled newspaper provides storage space for the brood
    • Place the nest at least ten meters away so the ants cannot find their way back

    If the substrate is soaked so that the ant brood is no longer optimally protected, the ants will look for an alternative nest. If they are offered a flower pot in this phase, the inner structure of which has optimal climatic conditions, the insects move into the container together with the brood.

    chalk and co.

    It is true that ants avoid dusty surfaces. Nevertheless, chalk, baby powder and algae lime are only partially effective. On the one hand, the insects quickly find a way around the pollinated area, so that they quickly find their way onto the original ant trail.

    On the other hand, the remedies quickly lose their effectiveness, especially when used outdoors. Rain or wind weaken the barrier effect within a short time. Even the smallest drafts of air whirl up dusty particles and transport them away. The insects would have to be permanently exposed to the fine dust so that they could not penetrate this barrier.

    Chalk provides only limited protection against ants

    salt

    Ants are unimpressed by a trail of table salt that crosses their path. They neither eat the salt crystals nor carry them into their burrow or are deterred by them. However, salt removes moisture from the cells. If you sprinkle it directly into the ant nest so that the fry come into contact with table salt, they can die. However, this does not eliminate the ant plague because the queen can continue to lay eggs.

    margarine and butter

    Ant expert Daniel Chérix, a professor at the University of Lausanne, discovered that ants don't like the smell of butter. According to his assumption, the aroma reminds the insects of dead conspecifics, which is why they avoid the spread. It should not matter whether you use reduced-fat margarine or butter.

    Presumably this method does not have the same effect on all ants, since some species feed on fatty seeds and will not shy away from butter. Many forest, meadow and lawn ants eat the fatty appendage, which is found on the seeds of various herbaceous plants. You can use olive oil or butter as bait for these species.

    oil and liquid substances

    Oil does not harm the ants, but the insects avoid oily or watery substrates. Although they cannot overcome this barrier, they look for an alternative path. Therefore, a small streak of oil on the ant trail will not bring success. If you want to scare the ants away with oil or water, you need to create a large puddle. Regular renewal is mandatory, because water evaporates quickly and oil is made walkable by dust deposits.

    What helps permanently against an ant plague?

    If you want to combat ants permanently and effectively, the causes must be eliminated. Insects get into the home because they are attracted by smells. They find food sources or suitable nesting sites. As long as these conditions continue to exist, recolonization cannot be ruled out even after successful control or deterrence. In the long run, only structural measures will eliminate the problem.

    Eliminate causes through construction measures:

    • Replace affected wooden parts and insulating mats
    • avoid damp conditions in niches and cracks
    • Thoroughly clean inaccessible corners
    • Seal or close gaps

    If rainwater drips through the roof, no bucket will help, only roof renovation. It is the same with an ant infestation in the house: not the symptoms but the causes must be eliminated.

    camphor

    Camphor doesn't just harm ants

    This colorless solid is derived from the wood of camphor trees. When ingested, the central nervous system and kidneys are affected, making the product useful as an insecticide. A solution of one part camphor and ten parts alcohol is sprayed directly onto the ants with a flower sprayer.

    Health risks:

    • psyche: Anxiety, excitement, confusional states
    • memory: pervasive short-term memory disorders, amnesia
    • body: Nausea, respiratory center disorders
    • nervous system: epileptic seizures

    liverwurst bait

    Some species of ants are considered omnivores, eating food high in protein and carbohydrates. They go to various foods, with liverwurst being particularly popular. You can use the animal product as a basic substance and mix it with a toxic substance. This measure has an effect on the ants that have eaten the bait. It should be renewed daily so that the attraction is maintained.

    How to make Liverwurst Bait:

    1. Dissolve one coffee scoop of baking soda in three teaspoons of hot water
    2. Add liver sausage to the solution in a ratio of 2:3
    3. mix until a smooth paste is formed
    4. Fill into bait cans and place on the ant streets
    5. refresh regularly if necessary

    Sugar water as a bait carrier

    Ants love sweets - and don't notice if it's poisoned

    Substances containing sugar are a valuable source of carbohydrates for ants. They therefore also feed on the sweet excretions of the aphids. A watery solution with granulated or powdered sugar will attract the insects, which will suck up the sap. You can take advantage of this and add a toxic substance to the mixture.

    Effectively drive ants out of the home

    If you find individual insects in the house, you do not have to immediately lay out poisonous bait. As long as the ants have not yet discovered an optimal basis for living in the household, the risk of permanent colonization is low. Isolated insects can be brought outside by hand. If an ant trail slowly develops, you can scare the animals away.

    cinammon

    The intense smell of the spice powder ensures that the ants' sense of smell is confused. They orient themselves using the smells of their scent marks. In this way, the insects find their ant trail and thus their way to different food sources. If the road is crossed by a trail of cinnamon, the ants have to look for new food sources. However, cinnamon powder only works if you use it correctly:

    • be wasteful and lay as thick a track as possible
    • take fresh cinnamon powder, which smells intense
    • renew daily if necessary

    If the home remedy proves ineffective, you should consider other methods. The ants often find other ways into the house or insects have already settled in niches and cracks that cannot find a way out through the cinnamon powder. Cinnamon proves effective when there are few ants in the house. This makes it difficult to get rid of masses of small insects.

    Ants don't like the smell of cinnamon

    tea tree oil

    The essential oil has an intense odor that has a deterrent effect on ants. If you don't hate the aroma, you can use a few drops of tea tree oil to create a scent barrier on the ant trail. Similar to cinnamon or vinegar, tea tree oil must also be reapplied regularly and, if necessary, several times a day, as the scent quickly wears off.

    Ant species and habitats

    Red ants can cause painful stings, while black ants are considered harmless. Yellow ants are less frequently observed in the garden and winged ants occasionally make an appearance. There are about 200 different species of ants in Europe with different lifestyles and characteristics. Not all of them are found in the kitchen, bathroom or roof truss. Various species often settle in the pavement or in the house wall.

    scientific natural habitat Occurrence in human environment particularities food
    Brown garden ant Lasius brunneus living on wood of different trees damp lumber quickly fleeing Aphid honeydew
    Yellow Meadow Ant Lasius flavus under stones, forest edges and meadows on lawns lives almost exclusively underground Honeydew from root aphids
    Black garden ant Lasius niger open landscapes in the tree trunk, lawn or masonry very adaptable insects and honeydew
    Red garden ant Myrmica rubra moist and semi-shady locations sandbox have a poison sting omnivore
    wood ants Formica forests and forest clearings avoid human contact hill-building wood ants are particularly protected omnivore

    Do I have to fight ants in the garden?

    Ants cannot be eradicated in the garden, since new insect attempts to establish themselves will start every year. The large-scale use of poison is not recommended, because it not only damages nature in the garden, but also endangers the health of children and pets. Wild ants do no harm in the garden. They take on important functions in the ecosystem.

    tips

    You can use oil to prevent ants from entering an apiary. Put your feet in a can filled with oil.

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    lawn

    Insects are part of the natural fauna of a lawn. Every year, ants swarm out between June and September. Young queens of various ants burrow into the ground, leaving visible mounds of dirt, which in some cases spread throughout the meadow. The ants try to establish new colonies here.

    Since the insects are extremely territorial, numerous young queens are captured and eaten by local people. Nature takes care of the problem itself. If you kept the lawn completely ant-free by using poison, some young queens would have the best chance of survival. The cycle starts all over again, which is why fighting it is not advisable.

    Vegetable patch

    Yellow and black garden ants like to colonize beds in the vegetable garden. The yellow ants prefer to build their nests under stones, while the black relatives colonize the open substrate. If the insects appear in the bed, you should check the plants for aphid infestation. This does not necessarily have to occur on the leaves, because the ants also feed on the honeydew of the root aphids.

    How to scare away the ants:

    • disturbance: poking around in the nest with a stick several times a day until the ants move
    • floods: Water raised beds heavily so that ants flee
    • digging up: transports brood to the surface where it dries out

    flower box

    The same species settle here as in the flower bed. Since potted plants are occasionally placed in the home, removal measures make sense. Water the flower pot extensively or place it in a water bath. This floods tunnel systems so that the roots are surrounded by soil again.

    The ants should flee and look for another nesting place. If you are unsure, you can repot the plant and completely replace the substrate. Also check the roots for aphid infestation.

    ant plants

    Some species of ants colonize plants that have been infested with aphids or root lice. These provide the insects with energy-rich food. In return, ants care for the lice and protect them from enemies. Therefore, it can happen that you can also observe ants on indoor plants. However, this does not harm the plants and the ants disappear when they lack the food source. You should therefore strengthen the plants and prevent aphid infestations instead of fighting ants with poison.

    Fighting Aphids and Getting Rid of Ants:

    • Garlic drives away pests
    • Aromas of coffee grounds acts as a deterrent
    • Wipe the juice extractor with washing-up liquid and water

    Chemicals

    Chemical agents are often less effective than promised

    Insecticides promise professional and effective control of an ant plague. But apart from the health risks for humans and pets, many bait bases are ineffective. Feed-repellent properties and the distribution of toxins in the nest play a major role here.

    fipronil

    The biocide is used in many insecticides because it acts as a contact poison against numerous field pests and ants. The period of time between the intake of the active substance and the first symptoms of poisoning is comparatively long. After three to four days, the first ants die, after which they pass on some of the substances they have ingested to other ants. A complete elimination of the ant colony can be expected within four weeks. Fipronil is often used in homemade liverwurst baits.

    Dangers and disadvantages:

    • Substance is not water soluble
    • is suspected of causing cancer
    • can be fatal to children and pets in high doses

    borax

    This rare mineral is used in many ant baits for its insecticidal properties. However, most products are not convincing, since a concentration of about four percent cannot achieve an effective effect. Agents with higher concentrations, on the other hand, have a repellent effect and are rejected by the ants. Borax can impair fertility and cause malformations in the embryo.

    tips

    Instead of borax, you can put some baking soda in sugar water and put the mixture in small bowls. In this way, the insects absorb the crystals, which are toxic to them, in dissolved form.

    Ants are useful

    Insects play an important role in the ecosystem. They are not only food for birds and other insectivores, but also ensure proper functioning in the forest habitat. Ants loosen up the substrate, accelerate decomposition processes and transport dead insects into their burrow to feed them to their larvae. There are numerous symbioses involving ants:

    • epiphytic plants provide nesting sites for ants and receive nutrients in return
    • Plants provide ants with juices and are therefore protected from predators
    • some insect larvae are fed in the ant's nest, giving ants nutritious glandular secretions

    nest types

    Ants build their nests from wood and plant matter mixed with clods of earth, resin, and other natural materials. They are built in various cavities or erected freely. Free nests are mainly built by tropical ant species.

    species advantage disadvantage To use
    earthnest Yellow Meadow Ant, Black Garden Ant are heated by the sun prone to rain soil loosening
    scatter domes wood ants better ventilation and heat retention susceptible to fungal attack forest floor plaster
    wooden nest Black carpenter ant, brown garden ant robust easy prey for woodpeckers decomposition of deadwood

    frequently asked Questions

    Are ants harmful to my roses?

    Ants do not feed on plant tissue or sap. However, they suck up the secretions left behind by lice. If ants have settled on peonies, they can be infested with root lice. The roots are loosened by the digging activities of the ants, so that the trees can no longer absorb sufficient water and nutrients. Regularly tread down the earth to interrupt digging. Make sure you have enough water and nutrients to keep the roses from wilting.

    Why are ants colonizing my strawberries?

    If ants are cavorting between your strawberry plants, this can have two causes. Check the leaves for aphid infestation. Once the pests have settled on the plant parts, ants are usually not far away. If you don't see any aphids, check the area around you. Ants often live on the trunks of fruit trees. If overripe fruit falls from a cherry or apple tree, ants like to pounce on the sweet fruit.

    Why do ants crawl on cherry laurel even though there are no aphids?

    The laurel cherry has two glands at the base of its leaves, from which it excretes sugary plant juices. Ants are attracted by the sweet aroma and it is not uncommon for the cherry laurel to appear infested with ants. In reality, the ants protect the tree from pests that eat the leaves. Therefore, the nectar is also referred to as police fodder. In the first few weeks after the buds sprout, nectar production is particularly high, so that masses of ants, especially wood ants, are attracted.

    Why do ants like butter?

    Most forest and road ants, as well as some lawn ants, have an extensive diet and some plants take advantage of this. Violets and Corydalis develop seeds from which a fatty appendage grows. This attracts various species of ants, which carry away the seeds and eat the appendage. They are given food in return for this seed dispersal. Such species will not spurn a knob of butter. Margarine, on the other hand, is not readily accepted.

    How can I fight ants in the room?

    Basically, you should first try to identify the species. Inform yourself about the way of life of the insects in order to be able to carry out a sensible measure to combat them. Often no control is necessary at all and in some cases only arranging with the ants helps if no structural measures are taken. If ants have settled in the wooden house, in the wall or in the basement, nesting opportunities should be eliminated. It is important that you deprive the insects of their livelihood.

    What ants are in the house?

    The most commonly reported ant in houses is the brown garden ant, which naturally nests in deadwood. Occasionally it settles in built-up wood or plasterboard. Especially EPS and XPS thermal insulation panels have a material composition like dead wood, which is why the ants create extensive tunnel systems and chambers here. An infestation is usually only noticed when the building material in the apartment is piling up in the form of flour.

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Animals in the garden